Enugu State Stakeholders have explained that they opted for the setting up of caretaker committees to run the affairs of the 17 Local Government councils in the state from January 4, 2016, when the tenure of the current council chairmen will expire, in the interest of the State.
It was recently reported that Enugu Stakeholders had during an interactive meeting summoned by Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi unanimously approved the setting up of the committee, in consideration of the reasons presented by the governor and other factors militating the conduct of council polls in the state.
Governor Ugwuanyi while giving a detailed account of his six-month stewardship in the saddle, told the stakeholders that the two major reasons his administration was opting for caretaker committees were the ongoing local government staff audit and other reforms as well as the inadequate budgetary provision for the exercise in the current budget.
The report stated that the governor promised to address the deficiency in the 2016 budget, to enable the Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC) conduct the elections next year.
The governor recalled that the State Caucus had in its last meeting in Enugu, agreed that all activities towards the local government elections, be put on hold to enable the Local Government reform committee conclude its assignment.
He added that the caucus’ decision appeared to be a widely-shared view among the people of the state, stressing that it would be unwise and imprudent to conduct election for new councils when this important exercise had not been concluded.
A source, who was present at the meeting told our correspondent that the stakeholders’ approval for the governor to go ahead and appoint caretaker committees was granted by the three senatorial districts whose decisions on the matter were presented by the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu (Enugu West), Prof. Bart Nnaji (Enugu East) and Chief Nnia Nwodo (Enugu North).
The source disclosed that the stakeholders’ unanimous decision coincided with the recent resolution passed by the state chapter of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) calling on the Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC) not to conduct the Local Government elections in the state pending the conclusion and outcome of the Local Government Staff Audit recently constituted by the State Government to review the activities of the Local Government Councils in respect to personnel administration and other matters.
It further said that IPAC, which is the umbrella organization of all the political parties in the country made known their stance through a press statement in Enugu signed by its Chairman and Secretary, Hon. Afam Ani and Barr. Osita Agu, respectively.
The source added that the stakeholders appreciated the stance of the political parties that “the conduct of the Local Government Elections and the constitution of a new Local Government Administration in the State, when the Committee on the Local Government Staff Audit has not concluded its assignment, will be counter-productive to the progress of the Local Government system, more so when the nation’s economy is currently in a very bad shape.”
The source further revealed that the governor maintained that the decision to constitute caretaker committees in order to avoid vacuum on January 4, 2016 was “in keeping with the extant laws of Enugu State” and “in consonance with the Local Government Laws of the state”.
In his speech, Senator Ekweremadu had described the outcome of meeting as a reflection of the peoples’ commitment to support the government to move the state forward.
According to him, “on behalf of the good people of Enugu West Senatorial District, we say a big congratulations to our governor for his accomplishments within the last six months.
“We have just heard what he has done and what he plans to do, in spite of the very tight economy we have. So, for the governor to have done that much and promised to do more, it means he is a visionary leader.
“So, we must say a big congratulations to him and we must encourage him. Let us assure you our governor that just as we have supported you in the past, we support you now and even tomorrow.”
Prof. Nnaji, while speaking on behalf of the people of Enugu East Senatorial District, also applauded the method of caretaker committees as a veritable approach in view of the lean resources of the state.
“I will like to conclude by saying that we applaud your method of caretaker committee. It is a very good approach giving the resources of the state. We also commend your method of stakeholders. We appreciate your inclusive approach in decision-making”, Nnaji said.
Meanwhile, Chief Nwodo who spoke on behalf of Enugu North Senatorial District, described the governor as a futuristic leader and commended his peace initiatives.
“Our problem with the Local Government elections is that the money appropriated for it cannot conduct it in one senatorial zone not to talk of the whole state. You told us that under this circumstance, you will run foul of the law by spending money that is not appropriated in the finance law. Consequently, that you will make provision in the next year’s budget for the conduct of local government elections and in the circumstance, something that Senator Ekweremadu called the Doctrine of Necessity, that you have no choice but to constitute caretaker committees. And luckily your predecessor had laid the legacy law, so we have no choice than to have caretaker committees”, Nwodo said to a resounding ovation from the stakeholders.
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